Vacuum pump operated musical instrument

ABSTRACT

A vacuum pump operated musical instrument is herein described which includes a hollow cylindrical body. The body is formed to define at least one aperture in the cylindrical wall thereof. The hollow body is open at one end and closed at the opposite end. A piston is slidably mounted within the cylindrical body for reciprocation past the aperture. As the piston is moved past the aperture, in a direction from the closed end to the opened end of the hollow body, the piston draws a vacuum and then suddenly communicates that vacuum to the ambient through the aperture. Air rushing in from the ambient into the vacuum space is acted upon the size and configuration of the aperture to form an audible sound. A second piston arrangement may be disposed between the aperture and the closed end of the hollow body. The second piston arrangement may be manually positioned to vary the volume of the vacuum retaining space. The adjustment of the volume of the last mentioned space is operable to controllably vary the pitch of the sound caused by air rushing from ambient into that space. Alternatively, a sleeve member may be coaxially and slidably mounted over the open end of the tubular shaped body so as to be adjustable with respect to the aperture. Axial movement of this sleeve member is operable to controllably vary the pitch of the sound in response to the position of the sleeve member. A one way valve is mounted within the first piston as a compression relief mechanism when the first piston is moved toward the closed end of the tubular body, before commencing the vacuum stroke. If it is found that the vacuum formed between the two pistons is too great when both pistons are moved in opposite directions at the same time, the compression relief valve may be opened manually by a control mechanism associated with the first piston arrangement to dissipate some of the vacuum.

United States Patent Haile [451 June 20, 1972 [54] VACUUM PUMP OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT [72] Inventor: Ernest Haile, 30 Cadwalader Terrace,

Trenton, NJ. 08618 [22] Filed: June 25, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 156,837

[52] U.S. Cl ..84/330, 46/174 [51] Int. Cl. ..G10d 7/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..84/83, 330, 349; 36/174, 178, 36/179 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 142,166 8/1873 Kromer ..84/330 481,694 8/1892 Galloway ..84/330 500,433 6/1893 Schubert. ...84/330 838,187 12/1906 H0ops..... ...46/l78 1,924,957 8/1933 Orr ..46/174 1,969,591 8/1934 Willis ..84/349 Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin AttorneySperry & Zoda [57] ABSTRACT A vacuum pump operated musical instrument is herein described which includes a hollow cylindrical body. The body is formed to define at least one aperture in the cylindrical wall thereof. The hollow body is open at one end and closed at the opposite end. A piston is slidably mounted within the cylindrical body for reciprocation past the aperture. As the piston is moved past the aperture, in a direction from the closed end to the opened end of the hollow body, the piston draws a vacuum and then suddenly communicates that vacuum to the ambient through the aperture. Air rushing in from the ambient into the vacuum space is acted upon the size and configuration of the aperture to form an audible sound.

A second piston arrangement may be disposed between the aperture and the closed end of the hollow body. The second piston arrangement may be manually positioned to vary the volume of the vacuum retaining space. The adjustment of the volume of the last mentioned space is operable to controllably vary the pitch of the sound caused by air rushing from ambient into that space.

Alternatively, a sleeve member may be coaxially and slidably mounted over the open end of the tubular shaped body so as to be adjustable with respect to the aperture. Axial movement of this sleeve member is operable to controllably vary the pitch of the sound in response to the position of the sleeve member.

A one way valve is mounted within the first piston as a compression relief mechanism when the first piston is moved toward the closed end of the tubular body, before commencing the vacuum stroke.

If it is found that the vacuum formed between the two pistons is too great when both pistons are moved in opposite directions at the same time, the compression relief valve may be opened manually by a control mechanism associated with the first piston arrangement to dissipate some of the vacuum.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures P'A'TE'N'T'EDJun 20 m2 3.670 61 T oooo mootoco \loom macaw INVENTORL 5. Emvssr HmLE yf f 2% ATTORNEYS VACUUM PUMP OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new musical instrument. More particularly, the present invention contemplates a vacuum pump operated, wind instrument which produces a controlled, variable pitched sound.

With the advent of electrical and electronic music, there is a great demand for new musical instruments which produce sounds heretofore unknown to the listeners of conventional music. In particular, there is a demand for such instruments which provide a wide spectrum of controlled variations of the sounds produced thereby.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new musical instrument which is especially adaptable for use in producing modern pop" music.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new musical, wind instrument which does not require an operator to use the force of his lungs to provide the necessary air stream for the operation thereof.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new musical instrument which provides a wide spectrum of sound variations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument which may be operated after a minimum of proper instruction.

At least some of the above listed objects are achieved by the provision of a musical instrument including a hollow body. At least one aperture is formed in a side wall of the body which is open to the ambient at one end and closed at the opposite end. A piston member is provided for creating a vacuum within the body, between the aperture and the closed end thereof, in response to the movement of the piston member towards the open end of the body. The piston member is operable to suddenly communicate the vacuum with ambient through the aperture in response to the further movement of the member toward the open end of the body.

In one independent feature of the invention, second piston member is disposed within the body between the aperture and the closed end thereof for varying the volume of the space retaining the vacuum. The volume, thus varied, is operable to vary the pitch of sound caused by the rushing of air from ambient into the vacuum space.

Alternatively, a sleeve member may be coaxially and slidably mounted over the open end of the body to cover and to be axially moved with respect to the aperture, to vary the pitch of the sound.

A compression relief valving arrangement may be associated with the vacuum creating means to relieve pressure buildups as the last mentioned means is moved toward the closed end of the tubular body. An arrangement may be provided for manually opening the relief valve when it is desired to dissipate at least a portion of the vacuum developed by simultaneous diverging movement of the first and second piston members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in a concluding portion of the specification, a preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment are set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a basic musical instrument according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a piston arrangement used in the musical instrument of FIG. 1 to vary the pitch eminating from that musical instrument;

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of an alternative arrangement for use with the musical instrument of FIG. 1 for varying the pitch of sounds eminating therefrom; and

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of a vacuum pump arrange ment which may be utilized in the musical instrument of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views thereof, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basic musical instrument, according to the present invention.

The instrument generally comprises an elongated, tubular body 10 having an open end 12 and a closed end 14. An internal cylindrical surface 16, of the body 10, defines a cylindrical column of air when the overall instrument is disposed in a vertical position.

Apertures 18 are formed in the cylindrical wall 17, defining the tubular body 10, intermediate the axial ends of the body. A first piston arrangement 20 is slidably mounted within the body 10 for axial movement therein. The piston 20 is sized to completely fill the cross sectional area of the space defined by the internal cylindrical surface 16 so that, when the piston 20 is moved upwardly toward the apertures 18, the piston 20 is operable to draw a vacuum between the lower face 22 of the piston 20 and the closed end 14 of the tubular body 10.

A longitudinally extending slot 24 may be formed in the cylindrical wall 17 for accomodating an operating rod arrangement 26 which projects radially outwardly from the interior of the body 10, to a position exterior thereof, for easy access by an operator. A guide device 28 may be provided on an outer surface 30 of the wall 17 for restricting the movement of the control rod 26 circumferentially of the tubular body 10 while permitting movement of the rod 26 in the axial direction.

A second piston arrangement 32 (shown in broken lines) may be disposed between the first piston arrangement 20 and the closed end 14 of the tubular body 10. The upper face 34 of piston 36 is in opposed face relationship with the lower face 22 of the piston 20. The cylindrical space defined by the internal cylindrical surface 16 of the tubular body 10 and the generally radially extending surfaces 22 and 34 of pistons 20 and 36, respectively, may be varied by the movement of the piston 36. Such movement is operable to controllably vary the pitch of sound created by air rushing through the apertures I8, as the piston 20 is moved from a position below the apertures to a position above the apertures.

A second axially extending, elongated slot 38 may be formed in the cylindrical wall 17 for the projection of a second rod 40 extending radially and axially from the second piston arrangement 32. A movement restricting guide device 42, which may be identical with the guiding device 28, is provided to slidably support the control rod 40.

The rod 40 may be connected with a guide piston 44 which, in turn, may be rigidly connected with the piston 36 by means of an axially extending connecting rod 46.

In operation, the basic musical instrument shown in FIG. 1 may be operated by repeatedly reciprocating the piston 20 past the apertures 18. The sudden in-rushing of air through the apertures 18, as the vacuum is communicated to ambient, causes audible sound. Simultaneously with the reciprocation of the piston 20, the operator may vary the position of the piston 36 so as to vary the volume of space retaining the vacuum. This, in effect, varies the volume of the resonating chamber which, in turn, controllably varies the pitch of the created sound.

Referring to FIG. 2, the piston arrangement 32 of the basic instrument of FIG. 1 is shown in elevation.

The connecting rod 46 may be attached to the guide piston 44 and the pitch control piston 32 by any suitable means (e.g. welding). The control rod 40 may, likewise, be attached to the cylindrical surface of the guide piston 44 by any suitable means. The control rod 40 may comprise somewhat of an S shape, consisting of a first radially extending portion 50 which bends upwardly into the axially extending portion 52 which, ultimately, bends radially outwardly to form a finger gripping portion 54. The portion 50 extends outwardly through the slot 38 and the control guide device 42 cooperates with the portion 52 to restrict the overall arrangement 32 to axial movement.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternative arrangement is shown for varying the pitch of sounds eminating from the basic musical instrument shown in FIG. 1. In particular, the piston arrangement 32 may be omitted along with the slot 38 and the guide device 42 associated therewith. In the place of the piston arrangement 32, an outer, axially slidable sleeve member 60 may be provided for varying the pitch of sounds eminating from the musical instrument. The sleeve 60 may be closed at the upper end 62 thereof to operate as a resonating chamber. Roller members 64, 66, 68 and 70 may be provided for slidably supporting the sleeve member 60 coaxially of the instrument body 10. A handle (not shown) or the like, may be provided for facilitating the hand manipulation of the member 60.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the piston arrangement 20 is shown with the addition of a vacuum release feature.

Basically, the arrangement consists of the piston 20 which may be hollow in configuration having an open end 72 and a partially closed end 74, defining a central aperture at 76 axially thereof.

A valve member 78, consisting of an elastomeric substance or the like, may be disposed over the aperture 76 and may be axially guided with respect thereto by means of downwardly and outwardly extending prong members 80.

In operation, as the piston 20 is moved from the area defining the apertures 18 toward the closed end 14 or the body 10, air is compressed between the face 22 of the piston 20 and the closed end 14 of the body 10. This compression is then automatically released, as the valve member 78 lifts in response to the over-pressure developed beneath the piston 20. When the piston 20 reaches the end of the downward stroke, the valve 78 reseats and, as the piston is returned toward the open end of the tubular body 10, the surface 22 cooperates with the valve member 78 to draw a vacuum in the cylindrical space defined beneath the face 22 of the piston 20.

If the pitch varying piston arrangement 32 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is used, the vacuum between the mutually opposing faces 34 and 22 of the pistons 36 and 20, respectively, may be greater than desired. For this condition, an additional arrangement may be provided for dissipating at least a portion of that vacuum through the manipulation of the valve member 78.

For this vacuum dissipating function, a control rod 82 is provided which is slidably mounted on the control rod 26 by means of guides 84 and 86. The control rod 82 is formed with a finger grip 88 at a free end thereof and is pivotally connected with a lever 90 at a pin joint 92 common to both the control rod 82 and the lever 90. An aperture 94 may be formed in the wall of the hollow piston 20 for receiving the lever 90 and for acting as a fulcrum for the operation thereof. A coil spring 96 may be disposed about the control rod 82 and retained between the guide 84 and the pivot joint 92 for urging the pivot joint upwardly and the free end 98 of the lever 90 downwardly into a normal position. A cord 100, or the like, may be provided for connecting the free end 98 of the lever 90 with the valve member 78.

In operation, an operator engages the finger grip portion 27 of the control rod 26, attached to the vacuum piston 20, and reciprocates the piston by the apertures 18 formed in the tubular wall of the instrument body 10. When it is desired to dissipate some of the vacuum, disposed in the cylindrical space between the face 22 of the piston 20 and the face 34 of the piston 36 or between the face 22 and the closed end 14 of the tubular body 10, the operator moves the finger grip 88 downwardly. This movement pivots the free end 98 of the lever 90 upwardly so as to open the valve 78. Upon releasing the finger grip 88, the valve 78 is urged back into a seated condition by operation of the vacuum, or by gravity. The prongs 80 insure proper seating of the valve element 78.

It can thus be seen that a new musical instrument has been herein described which is operable to produce sounds which heretofore have been unknown to conventional music listeners. The instrument of the present invention lends itself to ease of manufacture and may be operated with a minimum of proper instruction. The various features of the present invention present a musical instrument which may create a wide spectrum of sounds which are particularly adaptable for use in modern pop" arrangements.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION While what has been described herein is a preferred and several alternative embodiments of the present invention, it is of course understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention. For example, the sound producing piston 20 could be activated by a lever extending out into a keyboard arrangement. The piston could then be operated by pivoting the lever about a fulcrum by finger pressure.

If is therefore intended to cover in the following claims all such modifications and changes as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. A vacuum operated, musical, wind instrument comprising:

a. a hollow body;

b. said body being formed to define at least one aperture in a side wall portion thereof;

c. means disposed within said body for creating a vacuum within said body adjacent said aperture in response to initial movement of said means; said last mentioned means further operable to produce an audible sound by suddenly communicating said vacuum with ambient through said aperture in response to further movement of said means; and

e. second means for controllably varying the pitch of said audible sound in response to movement of said second means with respect to saidaperture in the course of playing siad instrument.

2. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said hollow body comprises a tubular configuration.

3. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said second means for controllably varying the pitch of said audible sound comprises;

A piston means for varying the volume of space within said body for retaining said vacuum.

4. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said means for controllably varying the pitch of said audible sound comprises a sleeve member slidably supported over said body.

5. A musical instrument according to claim number 4 wherein said sleeve is open at one end and closed at an opposite end.

6. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said means for creating a vacuum within said body comprises;

A piston slidably mounted within said body and provided with a one-way compression relief valve.

7. A musical instrument according to claim number 6 with the addition of means for manually opening said valve to dissipate at least a portion of a vacuum created by said piston.

8. A vacuum operated, musical, wind instrument comprising:

a. a hollow elongated body;

b. at least one aperture formed in a wall defining said body;

c. said body being open at a first end and closed at a second end thereof;

d. a first piston slidably mounted within said body for axial movement therein, a first axial end of said first piston facing said first end of said body and a second axial end of said piston facing said second end of said body;

e. the available stroke and axial length of said first piston being sized with respect to said aperture to initially draw a vacuum within said body adjacent said second axial end of said first piston and then to suddenly communicate that vacuum with ambient, through said aperture, upon further movement of said first piston towards said first end of said body and past said aperture; and

f. second piston means movably mounted within said body and disposed between said aperture and said second end of said body, said second piston being operable to controllably vary the volume of space defined by said hollow body and mutually opposed faces of said first and second pistons.

9. A musical instrument according to claim number 8 with the addition of a sleeve member slidably supported, coaxially over said first end of said body for reciprocating movement over said apertures;

Whereby, the pitch of audible sounds developed by the rush of air through said aperture may be controllably varied.

10. The musical instrument according to claim number 9 wherein, the first end of said sleeve is closed and the second end is open for receiving the first end of said elongated body.

1 l. A musical instrument according to claim number 8, with the addition of one-way valving means for relieving compression developed adjacent said second axial end of said first piston upon moving said first piston towards said second end of said body 12. A musical instrument according to claim number 8 with the addition of means carried by said first piston for manually opening said valving means when it is desired to dissipate at least a portion of a vacuum developed between the mutually opposed faces of said first and said second pistons. 

1. A vacuum operated, musical, wind instrument comprising: a. a hollow body; b. said body being formed to define at least one aperture in a side wall portion thereof; c. means disposed within said body for creating a vacuum within said body adjacent said aperture in response to initial movement of said means; d. said last mentioned means further operaBle to produce an audible sound by suddenly communicating said vacuum with ambient through said aperture in response to further movement of said means; and e. second means for controllably varying the pitch of said audible sound in response to movement of said second means with respect to said aperture in the course of playing said instrument.
 2. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said hollow body comprises a tubular configuration.
 3. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said second means for controllably varying the pitch of said audible sound comprises; A piston means for varying the volume of space within said body for retaining said vacuum.
 4. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said means for controllably varying the pitch of said audible sound comprises a sleeve member slidably supported over said body.
 5. A musical instrument according to claim number 4 wherein said sleeve is open at one end and closed at an opposite end.
 6. A musical instrument according to claim number 1 wherein said means for creating a vacuum within said body comprises; A piston slidably mounted within said body and provided with a one-way compression relief valve.
 7. A musical instrument according to claim number 6 with the addition of means for manually opening said valve to dissipate at least a portion of a vacuum created by said piston.
 8. A vacuum operated, musical, wind instrument comprising: a. a hollow elongated body; b. at least one aperture formed in a wall defining said body; c. said body being open at a first end and closed at a second end thereof; d. a first piston slidably mounted within said body for axial movement therein, a first axial end of said first piston facing said first end of said body and a second axial end of said piston facing said second end of said body; e. the available stroke and axial length of said first piston being sized with respect to said aperture to initially draw a vacuum within said body adjacent said second axial end of said first piston and then to suddenly communicate that vacuum with ambient, through said aperture, upon further movement of said first piston towards said first end of said body and past said aperture; and f. second piston means movably mounted within said body and disposed between said aperture and said second end of said body, said second piston being operable to controllably vary the volume of space defined by said hollow body and mutually opposed faces of said first and second pistons.
 9. A musical instrument according to claim number 8 with the addition of a sleeve member slidably supported, coaxially over said first end of said body for reciprocating movement over said apertures; Whereby, the pitch of audible sounds developed by the rush of air through said aperture may be controllably varied.
 10. The musical instrument according to claim number 9 wherein, the first end of said sleeve is closed and the second end is open for receiving the first end of said elongated body.
 11. A musical instrument according to claim number 8, with the addition of one-way valving means for relieving compression developed adjacent said second axial end of said first piston upon moving said first piston towards said second end of said body
 12. A musical instrument according to claim number 8 with the addition of means carried by said first piston for manually opening said valving means when it is desired to dissipate at least a portion of a vacuum developed between the mutually opposed faces of said first and said second pistons. 